MINOR LADIES ARE CROWNED LEINSTER CHAMPIONS

Well done to the Laois Minor Ladies Football team who were crowned Leinster 'B' Champions thanks to a 4-10 to 1-13 win over Kildare at Conneff Park, Clane on Sunday.

A hat-trick of first half goals helped provide the basis for victory, with Laois leading by 3-4 to 0-8 at the break on their way to provincial silverware.

Wind assisted Kildare began brightly thanks to an Ellen Dowling pointed free, but in Laois's first attack Ciara Burke offered an immediate response after good work also by Aine Conroy.

Kildare claimed the next two points, but good work by Shannon Costelloe and Laura Marie Maher pushed Laois in front.

Maher slotting a low side-footed shot to the back of the Kildare net after good work by Ciara Burke in the build-up.

Laois came under pressure at the opposite end as Kildare went in search of goals of their own.

Firstly Mikaela Nolan was blocked as she shot with Laois keeper Emma Hooban getting a foot to a Triona Duggan rebound volley with the ball spinning across the goal line and cleared by Kellie Preston.

Then a lovely first time punched pass from Ellen Dowling sent Nolan clear 30 yards out and she shot low and hard from the 13 metre line but again Hooban was able to block the shot and Clodagh Dunne scrambled it clear.

Kildare worked hard for scores, with Ellen Dowling and Maher trading points, before Maher shot her second goal after Kildare failed to clear a high lobbing ball from Burke.

Kildare finished the half strongly with points from Orla Gowran and Duggan, but Laois led by five points at the break.

The O'Moore's were wind assisted on the restart, and while McKenna netted for Kildare, Laois upped their game, with some good scores from Burke and Costello.

Kildare broke ahead with Gowran, Muireann Scully and Dowling dangerous.

A Laois attack seemed to fade out as Shannon Costello kicked the ball across the goalmouth with nobody to aim for but two Kildare defenders clashed as the ball seemed to be going wide.

However, the ball deflected off Kildare hands into the net. Kildare tried to get back into the game for the next four minutes without any reward, but with the game nearing an end Laois kicked the final four points to confirm silverware.

Emma Hooban, Kellie Preston, Clodagh Dunne and Clare Dollard impressed in the Laois defence, Aine Haberlin did well at midfield while Laura Marie Maher and Shannon Costello were the stars in the O'Moore's attack with captain Ciara Burke also leading her side impressively.

After the game, Laois captain Ciara Burke from the Sarsfields club accepted the cup on behalf of her team-mates.

Well done to all concerned including the management team of Linda Hooban, Pat O'Sullivan, Declan Delaney and James Kelly, along with physio Niamh O'Loughlin.

Laois will now play in the All-Ireland Semi-final in July. A Leinster team has yet to win this competition, with the 'B' Championship introduced in 2009 with Clare the reigning champions.

LAOIS: Emma Hooban; Kellie Preston, Clodagh Dunne, Nicole Byrne; Aoife Conroy,
Clare Dollard, Fiona Dooley; Meaghan Dunne, Aine Haberlin; Rachel O'Connell, Aine Fitzpatrick, Laura Marie Maher (2-3, 3f); Shannon Costello (1-4, 1f), Ciara Burke (1-2), Caoimhe Simms. Subs: Anna Fitzgibbon for C Simms (42); Ciara Delaney (0-1) for A Fitzpatrick (50).

KILDARE: Rebecca McGurk; Shauna Doyle, Orla Keoghegan, Ciara Conaty; Michaela Nolan, Briona Hoban, Orla Hogan; Eadaoin Connolly, Tara Hallinan; Ellen Dowling (1-7, 4f), Orla Gowran (0-2), Rachel Cribben; Triona Duggan (0-1), Mikaela McKenna (0-2), Órlaith Moran (0-1). Subs: Niamh Tuohy for Connolly (22); Niamh Lawler for Hogan (HT); Amy McGrane for Cribben (HT); Muireann Scully for Moran (54).

REFEREE: David Fedigan (Louth)

LAOIS LGFA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY

The Laois Ladies Senior Football Championship began on Tuesday last with the opening round of games as Timahoe, Portlaoise, Sarsfields and St. Conleth's claimed wins.

At Timahoe, reigning champions Timahoe got their campaign off to a superb start with a 3-23 to 2-3 win over Crettyard.

Martina Dunne scored 11 points, with Mo Nerney bagging 1-7 and Angela Casey and Rachel Kelly registering a goal each in Timahoe's 23-point victory.

There were goals aplenty in the other Group A clash with Portlaoise claiming a 6-4 to 2-7 win over Park/Ratheniska.

Portlaoise put in an impressive display with Ashling Keogh (3-2), Ciara Delaney (2-1) and Michelle Lynch (1-1) leading by example in a tough encounter.

For Portlaoise, Ashling O'Gorman and Clodagh Brennan played well in midfield, while in defence Ashling Saunders, Aoife Conroy and Ellen Healy gave super displays.

15-year old Gillian Hannigan also gave an excellent performance when introduced, in her first game at this level, with Fiona Dooley putting in a Player of the Match display.

In Group B, last years beaten finalists Sarsfields were 5-19 to 2-3 winners over Shanahoe.

Sarsfields led by 2-8 to 1-1 at half-time, with Tracey Lawlor scoring 1-3 in the opening 30 minutes, and Lauramarie Maher on target for the other goal.

Shanahoe's goal came from the penalty spot from Noirin Kirwan.

Lawlor brought her tally to 2-6 by the full-time whistle, with Maher completing a hat-trick during the second half as she added two further goals.

Ursula Breen (1-0) and Mary Kirwan (0-1) claimed Shanahoe's other scores, in a game where they came under strong pressure defensively throughout, with Eimear Barry doing her utmost between the posts to ship the challenge of a hungry Sarsfields attack.

St. Conleth's had a 4-6 to 2-9 win over St. Brigids in a keenly contested Group B clash.

St. Bridgets started the match in lively form and had two points on the board before the St. Conleths girls had settled down. However from then on the first half proved to be a very even affair with two goals from St. Conleths being matched by a goal and further points from St. Bridgets to leave St. Conleths ahead by one point at the break, 2-3 to 1-5.

St. Bridgets again started the brighter in the second-half to register some good points but then St. Conleths hit a purple patch midway through the half to score two more goals and with further points being added on they seemed to have seized control of the match.

But St. Bridgets came roaring back in the final five minutes to score a goal of their own and in the fading light St. Conleths were forced to defend desperately to hold on for a hard-fought but merited victory.

ST CONLETHS CROWNED FEILE CHAMPIONS

St Conleth's will make their way to the Bus Eireann All-Ireland Under 14 Feile once again, after being crowned Laois LGFA Feile champions thanks to a 3-11 to 0-1 win over Shanahoe at The Heath last Monday.

St Conleth's began this game brightly, after Sinéad Cullen set off on a great run down the right wing to register a goal.

This was a great team performance by the side who captured Laois Féíle honours last year.

St. Conleths have a very strong team that performed very well in Division 1 of last year's Féile and it is to the great credit of the Shanahoe girls that they never gave in and played some lovely football against the odds.

But on the day they just couldn't match the skill, power and teamwork of the St. Conleths girls who were crowned champions.

Despite being under sustained pressure throughout Shanahoe delivered an exceptional performance in the full-back line, with Dearbhla Kelly, Yeaneah O'Connell and Tracy Brown impressive.

Full-back O'Connell solid throughout and made some excellent fielding, offering great support to goal-keeper Rachel Clooney.

When Shanahoe did put any sort of attack on, midfielders Megan Walsh and Roisin Dwyer were central figures.

St Conleth's consistently challenged the Shanahoe half back line with Aoife Murphy, Mary Ann Reddin and Hannah Sheridan under pressure throughout.

Shanahoe's young attack will certainly develop and learn from this game, and despite the full-time score-line, they created many chances and worked hard but found it tough to convert scores.

Half forwards Chloe Fox, Maggie O'Toole and Grainne Phelan battled hard to win possession, with the full-forward line of Caoimhe Earls, Hazel Shorthall and Sarah Hennessy great carriers of the ball but weren't able to get through a tight Conleth's defence.

Emily and Sarah Jacob, Nicola Ryan, Alice Walsh, Leanne Hyland , Niamh Saunders, Leanne Boyhan and Isabel Finlay were all introduced for Shanahoe in the second half.

After the game St Conleth's captain Ava Galvin received the Laois Féile Cup form Mary Kirwan on behalf of Laois LGFA.

St. Conleth's will now represent Laois in the Bus Éireann All-Ireland Under 14 Feile in Derry from June 28th-30th.

ST CONLETHS PANEL: Lydia Darley; Sile Burbage, Rachel Downey, Lauren Hogan; Mary Cotter, Fiona Dempsey, Olivia Deverell; Eva Galvin, Shauna Quirke; Sinead Cullen, Naoimi, Tinashe Chapwayna; Grainne Smith, Rebecca Browne, Robyn Hackett. Aislinn Whooley, Erin Murphy, Amy Byrne, Lauren Connolly, Aoife Carey, Ciara Hogan, Jennifer Aherne, Nicole Havill, Leah Cooney, Emma Stafford.

SHANAHOE PANEL: Rachel Clooney; Tracey Brown, Yeaneah O'Connell, Dearbhla Kelly; Aoife Murphy, Mary Ann Reddin, Hannah Sheridan; Megan Walsh, Róisín Dwyer; Chloe Fox, Maggie O'Toole, Gráinne Phelan; Sarah Hennessy, Hazel Shorthall, Caoimhe Earls. Isabel Finlay, Emily Jacob, Sarah Jacob, Leanne Hyland, Alice Walsh, Nicola Ryan, Leanne Boyhan, Niamh Saunders, Rachel Hiney, Aoife Clooney.

HISTORY FOR UNDER 21's

Laois will take part in the first ever Aisling McGIng Under 21 All-Ireland Championship, which begins this weekend, with an away game against Meath.

The O'Moore's have been progressing well in recent weeks, training under Tom McKitterick with many players returning to the Laois jersey and some donning the county colours for the first time.

Laois are pitted in Group 4 with Meath, Wexford and Dublin.

RESULTS

Leinster Minor 'B' Championship Final

Laois 4-10 Kildare 1-13

Laois LGFA Senior Championship Round 1

Timahoe 3-23 Crettyard 2-3

Portlaoise 6-4 Park/Ratheniska 2-7

Sarsfields 5-19 Shanahoe 2-3

St Conleth's 4-6 St. Brigids 2-9

Laois LGFA Under 14 Feile Final

St Conleths 3-11 Shanahoe 0-1

Leinster LGFA Senior League Round 1

Sarsfields (Laois) 1-11 Stabannon Parnells (Louth) 1-7

TWITTER/FACEBOOK

Laois Ladies Gaelic Football Association are now on both Twitter and Facebook.


TWITTER: www.twitter.com/laoislgfa @laoislgfa

FACEBOOK: Find us at 'Laois LGFA' Tweet

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